Three Revision Mistakes New Writers Make and What to Do Instead
You’ve just finished writing your first draft—woo-hoo! That’s an incredible milestone!
Before you dive in to polish, take a breath and have a think about what it really means to revise a book.
Revision isn’t just about tightening sentences or making the language flow better. That’s part of it, but it’s only a small piece of the bigger picture.
So please repeat after me: pretty writing is dead last on my list of editing concerns.
Writing a novel is like putting together a 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. It’s not a fast process. Drafting is the equivalent of shaking the pieces out of the box and onto the kitchen table. It’s messy. Some pieces are right side up; most are face down. If you’re lucky, a few components are already connected.
Revision is turning all the pieces right side up and evaluating how they could work together. First, you organize by shape and color. Then, you start with the edge pieces and work toward the middle. Sometimes you get it wrong. Sometimes there are big chunks of connected segments, and you have no clue where they fit. But, after many passes, it all connects and creates a beautiful picture.
To make putting those pieces together a more efficient and enjoyable process, here are three common revision mistakes writers make (I’ve made them all) and a systematic approach to use instead.
Mistake #1 - Not Resting After Finishing A First Draft
Completing a first draft is a major accomplishment. Many people want to write a book. Very few do. The importance of celebrating our creative milestones cannot be overstated. Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint. If you want to create a story others will read and enjoy, you must put down your pen and walk away for a bit to celebrate and fill your creative cup. Failing to slow down and acknowledge your wins is a recipe for burnout. So don’t blaze past the goalposts because it’s hard to build on the success that you don’t acknowledge.
Resting and celebrating will also provide you with three essential revision tools: objectivity, a renewed perspective, and stamina.
Revision is an analytical process, whereas drafting is a more creative process. Resting allows writers to downshift into an analytical mindset so they can approach the work with a fresh set of eyes better able to spot the big-picture problems.
Mistake #2 - Not Reading The Draft As It Is Without Making Changes
The revision process begins with an assessment of what you have, not what you think you have.
It is crucial to take inventory before you make changes. Writers often skip this initial auditing step because it can be painful. They know the writing is messy and are in a hurry to improve it. Unfortunately, they are only successful in making superficial adjustments at the sentence level.
Instead of rushing to fix it, first read the manuscript all the way through and don’t take notes. This will allow you to feel the story’s shape and refresh yourself with what is on the pages. Do your best to experience the book as a reader, not the writer. Make mental notes of what you like and why, as well as what’s missing.
Mistake #3 - Thinking Revision Means You Edit From Page One to The End
Revision is not a linear process. Instead, it is an iterative and circular process. If you begin on page one and work your way forward line by line to the end, you will only make line-level changes. The result is pretty prose inside a story that is still structurally broken. The manuscript will still have fatal flaws: Missing or lopsided character arcs, absent story logic, plot holes, and structure and pacing issues because you couldn’t see them at the sentence level. Polishing only increases a writer’s attachment to the work. Don’t polish until you are certain the scene has earned its place in the story.
After your first read-through, it’s time to begin a structural assessment. Here we look at the big story elements: character arcs, plot, conflict, worldbuilding, story structure, pacing, and narrative drive (cause and effect) to see what needs to change. A structural edit requires the writer to elevate themselves above the prose and see the story as a working whole. A scene outline is the best way to start. So read your story again. This time, take notes on what needs to be fixed. Then make a scene-by-scene outline. Use one or two sentences to describe what happens in each scene, why it matters, and how it moves the story forward. Now you can see your story at a glance and track character development, pinpoint where the major conflict occurs, spot plot holes, and grasp the flow of the story.
Revision takes patience and perseverance.
For most, revising a manuscript will take longer than drafting. Instead of rushing into a revision and racing line by line toward the finish, a writer is better off taking a metered approach.
After you’ve completed the first draft, taking a creative rest will help form a fresh perspective and enhance objectivity. Creating a scene outline will allow you to make the structural assessment necessary to uncover where the manuscript breaks down.
Remember, revising a book is like piecing together a gigantic puzzle. Slowing down and using the systematic approach of read, re-read, and outline will help you see the story as a whole and identify the fatal flaws that keep good books broken. If you want more help to revise your novel, check out Revision Clarity: a free workbook and resource guide for revising fiction writers.
